Tamora v Cerbera
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Discussion

Pursyluv

Original Poster:

1,949 posts

203 months

Monday 6th September 2010
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Search facility down, so apologies for asking a question that's probably been asked before. To cut a long story short, had my Cerbera 4.5LW for about 9 months, daughter has had a growth spurt so can no longer fit comfortably in the rear seatsfrown Two questions for starters, were the Speed 6 engine issues resolved by the time 2002/2003 Tamora's were made and would the performance disappoint me, as the Cerbera is really quite mental.
Thanks in advance
Bob

G20RG B

2,749 posts

260 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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The performance from the speed six won't dissapoint ,,and the quality did improve from late 2002/2003 onwards.

flasher

9,317 posts

313 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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I went from Cerb to Tamora and no, the performance wont disappoint at all. In fact handling is at least 50% better. It's not as visceral as the cerb in a straight line but more than powerful enough.

Finally, no the engines were not sorted, mine ended up having at least 2 rebuilds. I would look for one that's recently had the rebuild done.

Good luck!

Diablos-666

2,786 posts

207 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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If your daughter struggles to fit in the back of the Cerb then she will have a hell of a job fitting in the back of the Tam! hehe

The later the model the better the quality is the general rule. The 3.6 in the Tam will not be slow but won't be as fast as the Cerb but will be easier to live with in traffic.

The only way you will know is if you take one out for a test drive driving

Mr M

1,276 posts

231 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Hi.

I went from a Cerb to a Tam. My Cerb was a 97 plate, so was 10 year old by the time I got it. I felt the delivery of speed quite exhausting on it though, compared to the Tamora, which is very smooth. The Tamora also corners really well, yet the Cerb even with Nitrons, I was always looking over that long bonnet in to them. The performance hasn't disappointed me. You'd have plenty of fun doing normal speeds in it and not getting any points on your licence but that's not for everyone I suppose. smile The engine does sometimes sound like a bag full of empty sardine tins but mine hasn't blown up yet.. there's still time. I thought 2003 onwards they were improved but only from what I hear everywhere.



Edited by Mr M on Tuesday 7th September 10:45

BMartinsWheels

201 posts

229 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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I have to agree with the other comments. Having went a bit mad, buying a Tamora in april as a stop gap while I removed the engine from my Cerb, I now cannot bring myself to sell it on.
I was very surprised with the performance and the car is so much more user friendly. A set of TVR Power back boxes and you'll be popping and banging all over the place.
Don't get me wrong, the Cerb is still way out there as favourite but the Tamora has made this summer one to remember.
You won't be dissapointed !!
Barry

Pursyluv

Original Poster:

1,949 posts

203 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Thanks for the comments chaps, it's pretty much as i expected, now got a few months to decide what to do. 4 inches in 9 months, typical!

TVRMARKUB

2,312 posts

208 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Both cars standard you will miss the Power/torque of the 4.5, and the Tam will feel slow compared to your 4.5 on straights.

But the Tam is the easier car to drive on the limit (both standard) and should be quicker on non power tracks.

Ideally you would want a 4.3 Speed Six engined Tam, that would pretty much murder anythink if set up right.

Pursyluv

Original Poster:

1,949 posts

203 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
quotequote all
TVRMARKUB said:
Both cars standard you will miss the Power/torque of the 4.5, and the Tam will feel slow compared to your 4.5 on straights.

But the Tam is the easier car to drive on the limit (both standard) and should be quicker on non power tracks.

Ideally you would want a 4.3 Speed Six engined Tam, that would pretty much murder anythink if set up right.
I guess it's relative, they're all bloody quick; i will try and get a ride in one, although in S.Yorks i've only seen a couple of Tamoras. With regard to the 4.3, are there many about, i know of a 4.0, but not a 4.3

Mr M

1,276 posts

231 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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They do need revving to get to that power out. I'm not very good at that, but it's plenty fast for me. The autocar road test figures are reassuring

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsData/...

Depending on how hard you want to drive it I guess.smile

Pursyluv

Original Poster:

1,949 posts

203 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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If i can get a ride in one i'll let you know my thoughts

TVRMARKUB

2,312 posts

208 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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Pursyluv said:
TVRMARKUB said:
Both cars standard you will miss the Power/torque of the 4.5, and the Tam will feel slow compared to your 4.5 on straights.

But the Tam is the easier car to drive on the limit (both standard) and should be quicker on non power tracks.

Ideally you would want a 4.3 Speed Six engined Tam, that would pretty much murder anythink if set up right.
I guess it's relative, they're all bloody quick; i will try and get a ride in one, although in S.Yorks i've only seen a couple of Tamoras. With regard to the 4.3, are there many about, i know of a 4.0, but not a 4.3
With the speed six engines you have to rev the bks out of em and use the gearbox more than you would in say a AJP8 or 500 engine. Let the revs drop below 5k and you really notice the lack of torque, more so with the 3.6, the 4.0S engine is better but still lacks real grunt under 5k.

With the 4.3 you feel the extra torque and it pulls a lot better from lower in the Rev range.


Though a better gearbox system(say a flappy style with auto blip like the Fezza's have) would really suit any of the S6 engines and help keep revs up without having to dislocate your ankle with extreme heel and toe tech.

Though you could shorten the throttle travel which would also help if your feelng brave.

When my engine goes it will defo be replaced with a 4.3/4.5, and I believe about 70 4.3's are in TVRs now.


Edited by TVRMARKUB on Wednesday 8th September 14:44

BCA

8,651 posts

286 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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How closely does a t350 measure up against a tamora?

Zippee

14,125 posts

263 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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BCA said:
How closely does a t350 measure up against a tamora?
Pretty much an identical car. The Tam is supposedly a touch more fogiving due to the lack of full roof - the 350 feeling a little stiffer/harsher. Performance wise though they're identical.

funbobby

1,705 posts

287 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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funny enough ive been thinking of going the other way, always fancied a nice 4.5 cerb but the tam does seem a good allrounder.

Spoonman

1,085 posts

290 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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You won't be disappointed by a Tamora but it's not really a hooligan's car, so you won't get out of it being surprised you're still in one piece.

The 3.6 really does like to rev, lacking the low-down grunt that throws you back in your seat. I think it's fair to say most passengers in my Tamora don't realise it's much quicker than an average sports car. Either that's because of the progressive power delivery, or because I don't leave enough trails of rubber on the road.

Pursyluv

Original Poster:

1,949 posts

203 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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Spoonman said:
You won't be disappointed by a Tamora but it's not really a hooligan's car, so you won't get out of it being surprised you're still in one piece.

The 3.6 really does like to rev, lacking the low-down grunt that throws you back in your seat. I think it's fair to say most passengers in my Tamora don't realise it's much quicker than an average sports car. Either that's because of the progressive power delivery, or because I don't leave enough trails of rubber on the road.
Yes i understand what you mean and yes sometimes i'm glad to have it back in the garage so that it and me are both safe again biggrin

Smooth Smith

621 posts

193 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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Spoonman said:
You won't be disappointed by a Tamora but it's not really a hooligan's car, so you won't get out of it being surprised you're still in one piece.

The 3.6 really does like to rev, lacking the low-down grunt that
throws you back in your seat. I think
it's fair to say most passengers in my
Tamora don't realise it's much
quicker than an average sports car.
Either that's because of the
progressive power delivery, or
because I don't leave enough trails of
rubber on the road.
Is the 4.0 S6 lacking in low down grunt also?

Templedog

169 posts

198 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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I love the fact that the Tam is such a versatile, liveable car. It is very easy to drive 'normally'. No surprises even in the wet as long as you keep the revs down, it just moves along with no drama. The handling is excellent, get the tyre pressures right and it feels extremely planted and safe.

When you do want to go, drop it down a cog or two and bury it. There's not much out there this side of £60k that will embarrass it. The point is, you get to choose. If you want to be a hooligan, you can, if you just want to potter along with the top down and enjoy the sound, you can do that too. That's not to say there won't be a 4.3 upgrade at sometime in its future when my engine finally goes to heaven, but if I had to drive the 3.6 for the rest of my days I wouldn't be disappointed.

Edited by Templedog on Thursday 9th September 22:30


Edited by Templedog on Friday 10th September 10:17

mycroft

1,545 posts

276 months

Friday 10th September 2010
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Hi Sam , nicely put , couldn't have said it better myself .
Dale